On the surface, Power BI looks like an easy to learn Microsoft tool, however what most people think they need to learn is often not even half of what they need. There is so much to learn to be good at using Power BI.
In summary you need to learn the following:
- Data Acquisition: In short, this is the process of fetching your data from wherever it lives, importing it into Power BI while cleaning and shaping it to meet your needs. Power BI has a revolutionary tool built in it to help you do this called Power Query. You get to access this tool from Get Data in the Power BI menu.
- Data Modelling: This is the process of taking your data and turning it into something more useful than just raw data so you can extract the key insights. Power BI has an in-built engine to help you do this. The data modelling language is DAX (Data Analysis and Expressions). Once you learn how to write DAX you will be well on the way to becoming a Power BI expert.
- Data Visualisation: Once you have loaded your data and have the database designed to answer the business questions you have, you then need to visualise the data. Power BI has a brand new visualisation engine that is in a continuous state of improvement.
There is a bit of a hump to get started, but with a small amount of guidance you will be off and running.
About Matt Allington
Matt Allington is a data platform expert and has been training Power BI for more than 5 years. Not all Power BI training is created equal. The training courses on this site are developed by Matt Allington who is a Microsoft MVP specialising in the Microsoft Self Service BI Products. Matt has the ability to transform the seemingly complicated into easy-to-comprehend learning experiences.
Matt is the author of the best selling books Supercharge Power BI and Supercharge Excel.
Matt has a joint venture Skillwave with Ken Puls for providing online training courses.
There are various online learning options to suit your geo-location, time, requirement and level of expertise.
The various service offerings available are shown below.
Live Training
Power BI For the Business Analyst
Matt and his accredited trainers deliver face to face training in Australia and live instructor-led online training globally.
- Module 1: Foundations of Power BI – Data to Dashboard (6.5 CPD hours)
- Module 2: Extracting Data Insights with Power BI and DAX (6.5 CPD hours)
At the end of the 2 modules you will be well on your way to becoming a Power BI ninja.
All participants will receive the certificate of completion at the end of the course.
Participants registered for module 2 will receive a copy of Matt’s book “Supercharge Power BI”.
Demystifying DAX – Advanced DAX Live Training
Matt delivers this Intermediate-Advanced DAX training course using his extensive knowledge of DAX and his commending experience in training and consulting to make the training practical and relevant. The training covers the more complicated advanced principles of data modelling using Power BI and the DAX language in different areas to solve the real world business problems.
Semester based Online Training with live Q&A
Supercharge Power BI Online Training
If you want guided learning of DAX you can opt for this training, where you study specified chapters from Matt’s book Supercharge Power BI, watch the associated online videos and attend live online Q&A sessions with Matt. This is a high quality Online Power BI training course that will teach you how to get the most from this tool. Participants of this hands-on Power BI online training program will soon realise there is so much more you can do with Power BI once you learn to write DAX. This is an alternative interactive version to the pure video on demand version.
This Power BI online training course is a combination of:
- Self-paced remote learning using one of Matt’s books – Supercharge Power BI or Supercharge Excel. (3 hours per week for 7 weeks – 21 CPD hours). The books contain many worked through examples and practice exercises to cement your learning.
- Weekly video based training with examples and demos to support the complex topics in the book. (1 hour per lesson for 5 lessons – 5 CPD hours)
- Weekly live screen sharing Q&A sessions with Matt Allington. (1 hour per week for 5 weeks – 5 CPD hours)
Total CPD hours = 21+5+5 = 31 hours.
This online Power BI training course will teach you how to use the data modelling capabilities in Power BI Desktop.
All participants will receive the certificate of completion at the end of the course.
Supercharge Power BI Online Training details and next semester schedule can be found here.
Demystifying DAX (Intermediate to Advanced DAX) Online Training
If you want guidance to take your DAX to next level, you can opt for this training, where you will learn how actually DAX formulas work, when and how to use the DAX functions, the performance of DAX formulas, how to improve it, and so on.
This online training is for those who have learnt how to write DAX and have been using DAX for at least 6 months.
You will watch the associated online videos and attend live online Q&A sessions with Matt. This is a high quality Online Power BI Advanced DAX training course that will teach you how to get the most from this tool. Participants of this hands-on Power BI online training program will soon realise there is so much more to understand after you learn to write DAX to make your data models highly performant.
This Intermediate to Advanced DAX online training course is a combination of:
- Self-paced video based training with examples and demos. (5 modules – total video length more than 7.5 hrs.)
- Practice exercises for each module (30 min. each)
- Live online screen sharing Q&A calls with Matt Allington. (4 Q&A calls – 45 minutes each).
This online Power BI training course will teach you how to get the most of the data modelling with DAX in Power BI Desktop.
All participants will receive the certificate of completion at the end of the course.
Demystifying DAX Online Training details and next semester schedule can be found here.
Video On Demand Online Training
Do you want to have a kick-start on using Power BI to create and share reports? Then this is right course for you. You will understand the Power BI Desktop features and learn how to create different types of reports. You will also learn how to share your reports, create Dashboards on Power BI.com, use the Power BI features such as Q&A, Quick Insights, Analyze in Excel, etc.
You will also get an introduction on Power Query to load and shape data to put it in the required format for preparing the reports.
You can use the training files provided with the course material to follow through the examples shown in the demos and practice yourselves.
You can find the Foundations of Power BI– Data to Dashboard Training course content and details here.
Extracting Data Insights with Power BI and DAX
Power Query is a revolutionary tool to help Power BI Professionals get easy access to the data they need to do their job. Power Query is easy to learn, and you can super charge your learning experience with this Video on Demand Training course specifically targeted to you. This is a self-paced course with worked out examples illustrating the concepts.
You can use the sample workbooks provided with the course material to follow through the examples and practice yourselves.
The training has 3 levels – Fundamentals, Essentials and Advanced. You can either get all the levels as a bundle or first try out Fundamentals as a free course.
You can find the course content for Power Query Academy here.
If you want a customised training with your data and/or have more number of people to be trained you can opt for a tailored in-house training course.
Private Onsite Corporate TrainingLive, Instructor-led Virtual Online Inhouse Training
 If you are in Australia you can have training at your own premises.You can find more details here. |  If you are outside Australia or if your team is geographically dispersed, you can consider Virtual Online In-House Training. |
You may have working knowledge of Power BI but need help from time to time to solve complex business problems and/or create reports with the changing needs. You can get remote help and support in such cases. Read more information here.
Power BI Coaching and Consulting
One of the challenges of getting started with Power BI is getting over the hump of there being so much to learn. It is not that you can’t do it, it is just that most people need some help getting started. This is where Matt Allington comes in.
There are many ways you can leverage Matt’s skills, knowledge and experience.
Matt can:
- Come on-site and meet with the key people in the organisation that want to get started with Power BI. This can be one or more people depending on the circumstances.
- Work with you online remotely anywhere in the world to help you find your way.
- Deliver training to the key Power BI business users so they can learn the skills needed to be successful.
You can find more about Power BI consulting here.